02/07/2025
謝謝 (She-eh She-eh), Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Danke, Tak, dank u, Mahalo, Lorem ipsum dolor, dziękuję, Go raibh maith agat, Waad ku mahadsan tahay, Ngiyabonga,
otherwise in plain English Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
The first AKC trial of 2025 is done and there were many happy times by all. It was three days spent with family, friends and furry companions watching some awesome runs, cheering everyone on and sharing lots of laughs. With the winter weather upon us I was very happy not to battle a snowstorm, ice storm and very, very happy to have a nice climate control building and best of all indoor plumbing! Emoji
Many huge thanks to our awesome workers who always stepped up whenever we needed a job filled. I say this all the time, but it really takes an agility community to put a trial on. And if you haven't worked a trial before, please consider doing so whether it's a WAG trial or someone else's trial. Remember there were workers around when you started out so, please think about being there for others just starting out.
I am happy for volunteers that fill in the key positions for the trial. They commit to doing this job and are at the trial from the moment the building is open until everything is done at the end of the day.
-Trial Secretary Jim and Judy Payne who kept the paperwork rolling, getting scores out on time and anything else secretary related.
-Chief Course Builder - Rosie Hatcher-Pientok who always does this hard job of lifting and moving equipment for all the many course changes throughout the trial.
-Ring captains- Pat Casey who was ring captain on Friday and Judy Payne for Saturday and Sunday. Between the two of them they made sure workers were where they needed to be which made the rings run smoothly.
-Outside Grounds - Sheila Doran who kept p**p bag supplies ready and the p**p cans emptied.
-Inside Grounds - Laura Hilger made sure the washrooms were fully stocked and kept clean during the three days.
-Food Coordinator - Heather Green which is one of the many jobs she does at the trial. She kept our workers fed throughout the day and we were all very happy about that!
-Opening the building - Jim and Judy Payne made sure the doors were opened on time, so it made for happy exhibitors not having to wait outside in the cold.
-Raffle Baskets - Laura Hilger who did an amazing job coordinating getting items for the baskets, putting them together with few helpers, lined up volunteers to sell tickets and wrapped it all up Sunday morning.
Then there is all the pretrial work that gets done in order to make sure the trial runs smoothly. This involves making up the MACH/PACH bars and stickers, ordering all the trial ribbons, ordering food to feed our volunteers, stocking beverages, getting the worker schedule done, making hotel reservations for the judge, cleaning the building, checking inventory, making sure the equipment is in good working order and doing the endless computer work inputting entries and sending confirmation emails just to name a few things. (Whew!)
WAG is fortunate to have some awesome members who get the building ready for the trial. I am beyond being happy for those volunteers who came in Thursday night to set up which involves clearing the mat ring from equipment, marking the crating area, setting up the first course, setting up the secretary area, moving gates around, getting the practice jump set up, getting the kitchen ready. I'm naming names but forgive me if I missed anyone: Scott Persky, Pat Casey, Gayle Pluta, Judy Payne, Jim Payne, Sheila Doran, Nadia Adint, Tina Gradowski, Heather Green, Rosie Hatcher-Pientok, Anne Hatcher-Pientok and Greg Partykevich.
And then reverse it on Sunday after the trial. Some of these WAG members were at the trial for three looooong days and still stayed to help with clean up making me a very happy camper! Tina Gradowski, Nadia Adint, Gayle Pluta, Thom Rosiere, Greg Partykevich, Heather Green, Anne Pientok, Rosie Hatcher-Pientok and Laura Hilger. Again, I'm hoping I am not missing anyone but if I am please accept my apologies.
I am happy for exhibitors who enter our trials which support WAG. It is always nice to see familiar faces and especially nice to see so many new faces at the trial. We hope to see you all again soon!
Congrats to all who ran who pups this trial no matter how you did. You spent time with your pups and that's all that matters. Huge congrats to those who earned a PACH or MACH this weekend:
Bruce Bahcall and Samee MACH
Laura Donaldson and Max MACH2
Dresden Graff and Harley Quinn PACH
Collen Sands and Molly MACH
Ken Smith and Tess MACH2
Thanks to our judge Loretta Zich for judging our trial and who had fun courses.
Lastly very special thanks and a boatload of happiness to my co-chair Heather Green - thanks from the bottom of my heart, toes and anything else. Heather wears so many different hats at the trial and her energy is boundless. She keeps me on the straight and narrow path, and I couldn't do this job without her.
Again, thanks to everyone for doing what you do for the success of our trials. Your time, energy, dedication and hard work is truly appreciated.
Mary VanderBloomen
Trial Co-Chair
Attached are our Brags and Nags from Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
